Winners and Wow-You-Out-Of-Your-Mind Winners

I'm so happy for the great response I got for my 200/1000 followers book giveaway. Thank you all who entered. I wish I could give you all something for entering. But, alas, I am only one poor girl. But I beam you all pretty little rubber duckies. Did you get 'em? No! Darn this beaming technology. It never works for me. Pft! Well, I send you my love instead. :D

Without any further adieu, I will announce the winners in the order in which randompicker selected. They will win either Imaginary Girls by  Nova Ren Suma or Hereafter by Tara Hudson.

Hiba (aka: wovenstrands) & Ashley (aka: Celtic Vampire)

*CLAPS* Congratulations! I will be emailing you both to get some info's from ya!

So, I really like So You Think You Can Dance. I was catching up on some missed episodes yesterday and got WOWED away with a couple of the routines. These particular dances, well, more precisely, the songs for the routines turned out to be a great inspiration to me for writing. Right here on my blog, I'd like to share them with you!

Enjoy and have a marvelous weekend!

Riders vs. Writers

Every July Le Tour de France is a sport I enjoy watching. Not only viewing it on television is fun, but two years ago, I went to France to see the tour ride into Paris. That was amazing! Even as I write this blog post, I’m watching the epic race’s third stage. Yep, I love it enough to follow it for a full three weeks.

One thing that impresses me about cycling is the active teamwork, even when the cyclists are racing with other team’s riders. If they don’t work together then none of them are going to succeed. Circuiting through different riders, they each take a little time at the front of the pack, allowing for all riders to have a break at the back, feeding off of the draft of those ahead.

With all this said, how does it relate to writing?

I’ve only actively been engaged in social-networking since January. That means for a full year I was alone in my writing efforts. Since then I’ve developed many great relationships with authors and avid readers. They’ve been a great support system for me. I know with full confidence that I wouldn’t be where I am as a writer today without this group of people. I rely on them to encourage me through the downs that come with being a writer, and applauding me with my achievements. And I’m eager and absolutely willing to offer them the same support. This is what is so great about the writing industry: there’s an amazing sense of unity between authors. We want each other to succeed.

If there is one thing I’d highly recommend, it is to build relationships with other authors and avid readers. Perhaps this is through critique groups or partners, or someone to talk to about good books. It’s even fun to talk with them about nothing that has to do with writing at all.

So, I say, “Writers are like riders—cyclists: we need each other to succeed. Some days you’ll be the writer at the front of the pack pushing the words forward. Other times, you’ll be at the back being fueled by the encouragement of your peers.”

I love writing, and I love my writing support group! You’re all priceless to me!

PS: Do you want to win a copy of Imaginary Girls or Hereafter? Enter to win them on my blog. Follow this link!

Editing—The Necessary Evil

I’m an author who loves the creative process of writing. What I don’t care much for is editing. Unless you are the god of all writing—a prodigy, without editing, a story will belly-flop. I was going to say “suck.” But. I’m not that rude.

Writers go through countless edits—as I’m realizing more and more everyday—so it should be FUN! Right?

Everyone say this one word like you really mean it: “Yes!”

Here are some ways I think can make this daunting task more exciting:

• Change the font, size, or even color of the type. Doing this tricks the mind that you’re reading something different—not the story you’ve slaved over for countless months.

• Listen to music. I’ve recaptured my writing muse just though the strumming of a guitar or the beat of the drums. Or plug into some ambient music; perhaps, ocean water sloshing to an island’s sandy shore.

• Change your writing environment. Maybe go to the local library or cool hangout like Starbucks. Get out of your office for a while. Write at the kitchen table, outside, or in the bathroom if you have to, not that I have. Uh… Really!

• Print your manuscript. It can help you to catch things you wouldn’t on a computer screen. Plus, it’ll get you away from your computer for a while.

• Save your book by chapter. Right now, my book is saved in a continuous document. It dawned on me to save each chapter by itself, and put them in one folder. This will keep your eyes from drifting to the page count. For example, if I’m only on page 67 out of 248, I could get discouraged. Trick your mind to think you’ve made progress with little chunks of your book, not all of it as a whole.

• Reward yourself with something dang awesome when you finish your edit. Maybe go to a movie with friends, get a massage, a trip to Vegas, eat at your favorite restaurant, or spend a day out in the sun reading a book.

• Do some yoga poses or jumping jacks in between chapters to loosen up those tight muscles. It’ll get the blood flowing. Your creative process moving again.

• Read your manuscript out loud in a foreign accent. Ok, that might not work to your advantage, but it sure sounds fun, huh?

I’m going to open this up to you! What are ways you get through the tedium of editing? Be honest. The quirkier the better!

PS: Don't forget to enter my book giveaway. I'm giving away Imaginary Girls and Hereafter. Go here to enter!

200/1000 Followers Book Giveaway

Its GIVEAWAY time, my lovely friends. I officially have over 200 followers on my blog. And. I have over 1000 followers on Twitter. With all the monumental giddiness flooding through my wee being, I feel it’s time for a supercool giveaway for the blessed event of my follower count.

Because I loveth you all to deatheth, I want to give you a chance to win one of the following books:

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

GoodReads: Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby. But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

GoodReads: Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Rules:

There will be two winners chosen by randompicker.com. The first person drawn will get first pick; the second winner wins the other book.

Open to domestic U.S. only (sorry, I’ve got to save on postage)

You must be 13 years of age or older

Contest closes on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 3:16 P.M. MST

Comment the following things on this post:

Do you follow my blog? Your picture must appear on the sidebar. (Offer your name as shown on sidebar) +1

Do you follow me on Twitter: @writingjewels1 (Offer your Twitter name) +1

You must tweet and/or blog about this giveaway. (Both would be fabulous, but only one is required) Provide link +1

You must give me your email address (to contact the winners) +1

You must leave a comment on this blog post that makes me giggle (if it doesn’t, I’ll still let you be in the contest. haha) +1

Winners will be announced on Friday, July 15, 2011 on my blog

Everyone, thank you for making this possible! I love sharing my thoughts on my blog about my journey to be published. I especially love tweeting my blah blah blah’s and that people still respond.

Good luck!